The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-14

Not a word of this did l dare breathe to
my father. AS we were seated on the
veranda, before retiring for the night, he
referred to the departure, saying, every
rebel should do likewise. If they were not
satisfied with the best government on earth
let them try to overthrow it. They would
soon find an end to their boasting. He little
knew, at that moment, that in my sisters
hand lay the little red and white rosette
which she had detached from her parasol,
seeking the first opportunity to send it to
her hot-headed lover as tho ''charm in the
hour of danger"
The heavy odor Of the red and white June
roses was waited on the night air, and nv
sister plucked two of their buds, the red and
the white and fastened them at her girdle.
The act had no significance in my fathers
eyes, but knew that from that moment
she was as surely pledged to the Southern
Confederacy as was her valiant lover.
In few days came the news of the open
ing conflict on Missouri soil, in the battle of
Boonville. Ny father was triumphant.
Lyon had routed the State forces A
deathiy pallor swept over my sisters face,
but she would ask no questions. Only those
who experienced the dread suspense which
those early battles entalled, can know the
agony which she endured during the sue
cecding days until a message came by the
hand of ''little Bob" 1t was this:
Your token lies over my heart We lost
camp jackson but we whipped the Home
Guards at Warsaw. Now We have arms AID
horses Forward to glory! Your trIe kright
will yet win his bride. RICHARD"
In the enlistment of Southern tzoops in
Missouri there was little of the pageantry
of war to captivate the senses, There were
no uniforms with gilded buttons and stars
of gold to dazzle the eye. Nothing to dis
tinguish tks officer FROM his subordinate,
save BIZ OF red flannel, or piece of cotton
cloth fastened to his shoulder or his sleeve
They had no muster rolls; they slept under
the blue canopy OF heaven, fed upon the
growing corn and turned their worn out
horses to feed upon the wild prairie grass,
az ie some rare frolic which all too soon be-
came tragic. This encounter with the Home
Guards encouraged the somewhat disheart-
ened volunteers. Then came the news that
Ben McCulloch, with his Texan Rangers,
was on his way to their relief and their ex-
ultation knew no bounds.
The sultry days of July were full of fore
boding to the Union men. The disaster at
Bull Run had given outspoken bravado to
the secessionists, knowing that the greater
part of the force under Lyon, opposed to
the State forces, was composed Of three
months men, whose term of service would
soon expire. The Unionists placed their
great hope upon the convention which they
had called for the purpose OF deposing
General Jackson. Ny father was no half
way Union man. Once in, he was in heart
and soul, and when Lyons pitiful appeals
to his superiors in command for reinforce
atrrr1h hna An1 Tot
his intention of going with a squad of
Union men to offer their lives, If need be,
to save Missouri.
1t was no time for tears as he announced
this decision, as we must prepare what
was necessary for his departure that very
day. Again the long shrill whistle Of the
steamboat smote our expectant ears and
my father came in to say farewell.
II am going with you, father" said Jane
''You, childi What can you dol 1t is
no place for women" said my father.
"But am going, father, with you, or
without you. Where there is fighting there
must be nurses. Iam going"
Her calm deliberation WAS so like his
cwn that he seemed unable to offer any re-
monstrance. At last he said:
''But we may be compelled to go out of
the State to pursue our enemy"
Every well, l will go also," was all she
said.
Whether she would go in the ranks OF
the pursued, or the pursuer, seemed a mat
ter of doubt in my mind, for / was sure
that Richards safety was as much part
of her plan as was the welfare of our dear
father
Now, stood alone on the bluff and saw
father and sister borne away, as she and
had before watched the rebel volunteers:
but there was no glory OF sunlight now. A
drizzling rain was falling, aud cold chill,
like the days Of early autumn. had sue
ceeded the sultry weather, although it was
only the first Of August. The Missouri
river was now unobstructed as a Federal
highway, and a short time sufficed to reach
the forces under Lyon and Sigel, who had
Just called their council of war, determined
to give the rebels battle before their own
forces were depleted by the retirement OF
the ninety-days men. The rich section of
country upon which the two armies were
encamped neither was disposed to abandon.
A battle was Inevitable. The morning
which opened upon the bloody battle Of
Wilson'S Creek found my sister in charge |
of a department Of hospital supplies, while |
my father was commissioned as surgeon
/. Only the God of battles might foretell |
upon that fateful Friday what should be the |
outcome. The heavy LEAKAGE of midsummer |
hid from each the opposing forces, and not i